Allahabad High Court criticises Sambhal officials over limits on mosque worshippers, says they should resign or seek transfer if unable to maintain order
The Facts
- The Allahabad High Court rejected/set aside an administrative order restricting the number of people allowed to offer namaz at a mosque in Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh, which had been justified on “law and order” grounds.
- A division bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Siddharth Nandan made the observations in an order dated February 27.
- The court said the Sambhal District Magistrate/Collector and Superintendent of Police should resign or seek a transfer if they do not feel competent to enforce the rule of law/maintain law and order.
- The court said it is the duty of the state to ensure every community can offer worship peacefully at its designated place of worship.
- The case arose from a petition by Munazir Khan alleging he was prevented from offering/conducting prayers during Ramzan at a site in Sambhal where he said a mosque exists (Gata No. 291).
- According to the petition reporting, local authorities had allowed only 20 people to offer namaz at the premises.
- The court reiterated that worship on private property does not require state permission, and that state involvement/permission is required only when prayers or religious functions are held on public land or spill over onto public property.
Context
What exactly did the High Court tell Sambhal’s top district officials?
The court said the district magistrate/collector and superintendent of police should resign or seek a transfer if they feel they are not competent to enforce the rule of law and maintain law and order while allowing worship at the mosque. Indian Express,ThePrint,Asian News Internat…
Why did the dispute reach the High Court?
A petitioner, Munazir Khan, approached the court alleging that authorities were preventing prayers during Ramzan at a site in Sambhal (Gata No. 291) where he said a mosque exists, and that the administration limited the number of worshippers allowed. Hindustan Times,Indian Express,Times of India
What principle did the court cite about prayers on private versus public land?
The court reiterated that worship on private property does not require permission from the state, and that state involvement/permission is necessary only when prayers or religious functions are held on public land or spill over onto public property. Hindustan Times,Hindustan Times,dtNext.in
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